Janata Government and railwaymen head for a show-down over bonus demand

Janata Government and railwaymen head for a show-down over bonus demand

The Janata Government and railway-men appear to be heading for a show-down like the one in 1974 which had far-reaching political consequences.

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india today digital

March 12, 2014

ISSUE DATE: May 31, 1979

UPDATED: January 9, 2015 16:37 IST

The Janata Government and railwaymen appear to be heading for a show-down like the one in 1974 which had far-reaching political consequences. Strike leader George Fernandes, who managed to get himself rehabilitated during the confrontation as a militant trade unionist after his defeat in the 1971 parliamentary elections, is now an uneasy member of the Cabinet.

Fernandes addressing railwaymen at a Boat Club meeting in Delhi - a crisis of conscience

Fernandes and his socialist comrade, Madhu Dandavate, another strike leader who is now railway minister, are facing a crisis of conscience as they have not been able to persuade their Janata Government to concede the demand for bonus to 17 lakh railwaymen. The bonus demand had been the key issue in the 1974 strike which was broken by Mrs Indira Gandhi's government with ruthless force.

Impatient: If the mood of the railway-men who demonstrated near Parliament house on May 7 is any indication they are not prepared to wait any longer. Said Krishna Moorthy, a fireman from Andhra Pradesh who was victimized for participation in the 1974 strike: "They told us it was our government and that we will get our bonus. How much longer can we wait? I am beginning to suspect that even Fernandes has sold us out."

A further delay may cost the All India Railwaymen's Federation (AIRF) dearly. Its rival, the National Federation of Indian Railwaymen (NFIR) led by Sanjay Gandhi caucus member. A.P. Sharma, is out to exploit the situation. The NFIR, which opposed the 1974 strike is now at the forefront. First it threatened a strike from this month, but later postponed it when it could not muster enough support. But further vaccillations by the AIRF and the Government would only result in an exodus to the NFIR.

Speaking at the rally, Fernandes offered to resign and fight with them if the Government forced them into a strike. And that may well happen. Prime Minister Morarji Desai has not taken kindly to Fernandes' stand. Fernandes points out that the Janata Party had committed itself to giving the railwaymen bonus when a committee of the Union Cabinet comprising Fernandes, Dandavate, the then Finance Minister H.M. Patel and Labour Minister Ravindra Varma, set up late last year had recommended payment of bonus.

Repercussions: Deputy Prime Minister Charan Singh and Desai who do not see eye to eye on most matters are however agreed on denying the railwaymen bonus. Though Fernandes wrote to Desai about a couple of months ago asking for an early decision, there has been no response. Charan Singh's anti-urban labour attitude seems to be the biggest hurdle as he controls the finance portfolio.

It seems he is more inclined to share the goodies in the Government kitty with his constituents, the kisans, then he is to oblige his socialist colleagues with a trade union following. If the AIRF strike ballot due to be held before August 30 goes in favour of a strike, the Janata Party may face one of its gravest crises yet.

Though the 1974 strike was broken by Mrs Indira Gandhi's government through repressive measures it in fact marked the beginning of the end of her impregnable reign. Janata Party trade unionists are viewing this precedent with much trepidation. Said a senior "socialist leader": "Should the strike come about, the Janata Government will be shaken to its foundations. Except for the Jan Sangh-ruled governments, the others will do nothing to break it. Not only would the economy be ruined, but the Janata Party and the nation would also get polarized."

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